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Austria by its Children Piece by Piece

January 14, 2016 – The Austrian Mint issues the eighth silver coin of the well-received “Austria by Its Children” program, featuring the eastern province of Burgenland. The coin motif has been created by a pupil in a regional grade school.

The obverse of the coin was designed and engraved by mint engraver Helmut Andexlinger. The design features the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Lake Neusiedl and some of the many migratory birds; pelicans, (one with a frog in its bill) and ducks, which use the lake as a natural habitat. The shores depict the abundant reed beds key to this region’s natural habitat. A dock is located in the left area of the design as well as two church steeples located in the regional town of Rust. The obverse of the coin also features the country of issue, “Republik Oesterreich” Republic of Austria, the year of issue 2015, the face value of 10 euros and the name of the province of “Burgenland.”

The reverse of the coin bears the design of Leonie Schrollenberger in a regional grade school, who won the design competition of this coin. The design was then worked on with Leonie and the mint’s Master Engraver Thomas Pesendorfer to accommodate the areas of bright colour to the textures and relief of a coin. For example, the blue sky of her original drawing becomes the texture as seen behind the stork on the right side of the coin’s reverse. The stork is, of course, standing in Lake Neusiedl. Leonie also included a charming depiction of the castle of Esterhazy in the foreground, and a village centered around a church steeple in the central field. In the upper left area of the design she has included 2 bunches of grapes on a vine, a wine glass and bottle as well as the wooden wine cask.

The silver “Burgenland” coin is legal tender and will be available in two finishes, Proof and Special Uncirculated, with a maximum mintage of 30,000 and 40,000 respectively.

Burgenland is Austria’s most eastern administrative region and bills itself as “the sunny side of Austria.” The region is best known of its National Park of Lake Neusiedl, numerous spas and, of course, lots of wine.

The lake is an excellent location for water sports including surfing, kayaking and sailing. There are 240 species of birds in the Lake Neusiedl. The lake is 36 kilometers (22 miles) long and up to 14 kilometers (8.5 miles) wide. However, the lake is not deep, only about 1 meter (3.3 feet) deep on average and in one area it is 1.8 meters (5.9 feet) deep.

The region has numerous hot springs around which the spa industry has blossomed. Because of some 300 days of annual sunshine, Burgenland has the highest average temperature year round in Austria. The sun and soil are ideal for the many vineyards of the region which produce a lot of good wine that is not very expensive. The region consists of all the elements for a perfect relaxing vacation day; wake up to sunshine, undertake some water sports and go for a run in the countryside and finish your day with some good food and fine wine.

More information on this and other issues of the Austrian Mint is available here.